Featured video

Description: A synthetic narcotic, fentanyl has been detected in an increasing number of illicit drug overdose deaths in Metro Vancouver. Many of the people who died were recreational and/or occasional users and don’t appear to have known they were ingesting fentanyl, as it is easily hidden in other drugs.

Harper names envoy to deal with First Nations concerns on pipelines and energy

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, in a speech in Terrace, announced the appointment of a special representative who will liaise between B.C. and Alberta first nations and Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office.

Photograph by: DARRYL DYCK
, THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA - The Harper government's second announcement in as many days aimed at winning British Columbians' trust on oilsands pipelines was greeted Tuesday with praise by Enbridge Inc. and with skepticism by a West Coast first nations leader.Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, in a speech in Terrace, announced the appointment of a "special federal representative" to talk to B.C. and Alberta first nations about natural resource developments - including the proposed $6.5 billion Northern Gateway oilsands pipeline to Kitimat. Vancouver lawyer Doug Eyford will report to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.Oliver called the announcement "historic" and timed at a "seminal moment," according to the text of the speech.Grand Chief Edward John, a member of the B.C. First Nations Summit, was skeptical."Those are pretty creative adjectives," he said.He said the Harper government's efforts to consult first nations on natural resource projects fall short of what the Supreme Court of Canada has said is necessary."I think the standard of engaging is not to wave a paper under their nose and throw a few trinkets their way, and think it will satisfy first nations. You have to engage at a level far deeper than that," John said.Oliver, who on Monday announced a series of initiatives to give Canada a "world-class" tanker safety system, told his Terrace audience Tuesday that almost $100 billion in natural resource investments will be made in B.C. over the next decade.He said Eyford will meet with aboriginal communities affected by proposed oil and natural gas pipelines, liquefied natural gas plants, ports, and related infrastructure. Eyford will examine ways to meet environmental concerns and come up with better business and job opportunities for aboriginals in B.C. and Alberta. Eyford will also work with the two provincial governments that are feuding over Northern Gateway.He is to give Harper an interim report by June 28, and a final report by Nov. 29."His vision, professionalism and sense of balance and fairness will, once again, deliver results for first nations and all British Columbians," Oliver said of Eyford, who since 2007 has been a federal land claims negotiator in B.C.Enbridge executive vice-president Janet Holder issued a statement praising the government for taking an initiative "to remove barriers to market access for the greater good of British Columbia and Canada."Eyford's final report is due a few weeks before the joint National Energy Board-Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency panel is required to submit its final report on the Northern Gateway proposal.New Democratic Party MP Nathan Cullen, whose riding includes Kitimat, said Oliver's efforts in B.C. won't change the hostile attitude of many British Columbians towards the project.He described the appointment as another attempt by the government to help Enbridge make its case that first nations have been adequately consulted."Subsidizing a multi-billion-dollar company seems a bit tough when the federal government is cutting everywhere else," Cullen said.Harper has made clear that one of his top priorities is to ensure that Alberta's oilsands get a better price for diluted bitumen crude, which now goes mostly to U.S. customers at a discounted price.But proposals by Enbridge and by Kinder Morgan, which wants to twin its existing pipeline from near Edmonton to Burnaby, are controversial in B.C. Many critics say industry and the federal and Alberta governments have been unable to obtain a "social license" due to opposition from first nations, environmental groups, and ordinary British Columbians.While the government insists it is not responding directly to demands from B.C. Premier Christy Clark, both announcements this week address two of the five concerns raised by her last summer when she set out conditions for B.C.'s support for oilsands pipelines.She said projects must first successfully complete an environmental review, world-class safety regimes must be in place both along the coast and inland, first nations have to be consulted, and B.C. must get a larger share of the financial benefits.Federal officials note that the Harper government announced measures months before Clark's 2012 declaration to address concerns about tanker and pipeline safety and first nations consultations.Poneil@postmedia.comTwitter.com/poneilinottawaRead my blog, Letter from Ottawa, at vancouversun.com/oneil

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, in a speech in Terrace, announced the appointment of a special representative who will liaise between B.C. and Alberta first nations and Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.